Scottish independence: Sillars slams White Paper

ANDREW WHITAKER

FORMER SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars attacked Alex Salmond’s independence white paper as a plan for a “mini UK” as he called for a Socialist alternative to the nationalist’s blueprint for leaving Britain.

Mr Sillars backed higher taxes on the rich and said those earning over £150,000 should pay 55 per cent in tax as he

claimed there are “a lot of rich people in Scotland”.

The former MP made the claims as he launched his new book on independence “In Place of Fear - a Socialist Programme for an independent Scotland”.

Mr Sillars also attacked the SNP’s plans to continue charging fees for English students who attends Scottish universities fees as he said those from south of the border should be “treated the same” as students from the EU who get free tuition.

He also said he “could see no reason to reduce corporation tax” as he set out his opposition to the SNP’s plan to slash corporation tax for large companies in an independent Scotland.

Mr Sillars said that the SNP had tried to “pretend” the white paper was an SNP manifesto.

He also said he would “quite happily” vote Labour in an independent Scotland if the party adopted a Socialist stance.